肿瘤DNA疫苗佐剂研究进展

对近年来在增加肿瘤DNA疫苗免疫原性、提高肿瘤DNA疫苗效力方面所取得的进展予以综述。简要阐述了以下几种较有效的增强肿瘤DNA疫苗效力策略的机制和进展：（1）以细胞因子表达质粒为佐剂;（2）以质粒编码的趋化因子、协同刺激分子、共刺激分子、补体为佐剂;（3）以CPGODN为佐剂;（4）其他一些佐剂。     

超抗原SEA增强小鼠对HBV DNA 疫苗的免疫反应

观察超抗原SEA(D227A)的真核表达载体（pmSEA）, 对HBV DNA 疫苗诱导Balb/c 小鼠(H2d）免疫应答的调节作用。 肌内注射空载体pcDNA3、HBV DNA 疫苗加pmSEA佐剂（pHBVS2S+pmSEA）或不加佐剂（pHBVS2S）; ELISA 法测定血清抗HBs; ELISPOT检测分泌IFN-γ的脾淋巴细胞;4 h51Cr 释放法检测小鼠脾细胞CTL 活性。HBV DNA佐剂组免疫小鼠抗HBsAg抗体滴度明显高于不加佐剂组,其IgG1/IgG2a的比例不同于多肽免疫组,二者分别为0.282与10。HBV DNA佐剂组均能增强IgG1和IgG2a的产生,是不加佐剂组的1.36、1.73倍。佐剂组小鼠脾淋巴细胞IFN-γ的分泌量是不加佐剂组2～3倍。CTL 细胞杀伤活性（E:T=100）佐剂组与不加佐剂组分别为：69.77%±7.5%、 42.81%±7.7%,差异显著(P<0.05)。HBV DNA 疫苗具有较强的免疫原性, 能够诱导机体产生特异性的抗体及CTL反应;pmSEA佐剂能够提高小鼠对DNA 疫苗的免疫应答,有望成为DNA 疫苗的免疫佐剂。     

电转联合热休克蛋白佐剂疫苗引发抗HBV的免疫应答

针对HBV感染的治疗性DNA疫苗虽然具有很好的应用前景,但目前抗病毒效果并不高,表明在病毒长期感染过程中存在免疫抑制机制。以HBV的表面蛋白(HBsAg)和核心蛋白(HBcAg)为DNA疫苗抗原,采用gp96和HSP70作为佐剂联合电转以提高疫苗的活性。将gp96为佐剂的HBsAg/HBcAg DNA疫苗免疫HBV转基因鼠后引发抗原特异性的细胞免疫和体液免疫应答。使用gp96和HSP70佐剂引起Treg下调20%。与没有免疫的小鼠相比,以gp96和HSP70为佐剂的DNA疫苗显著降低血清中病毒S抗原水平和DNA拷贝数,大幅降低小鼠肝脏中HBc的表达。该研究为设计以gp96为佐剂的乙肝治疗性DNA疫苗提供了依据。     

免疫佐剂分类及作用机制

通过现代生物技术制成的DNA疫苗、重组疫苗和亚单位疫苗等新型疫苗,虽然安全性较传统疫苗有所提高,但其免疫原性不及传统疫苗,需要通过佐剂增强疫苗的免疫效力。随着对佐剂研究的不断深入,铝佐剂、油乳佐剂、微生物类佐剂、蜂胶佐剂、左旋咪唑佐剂、脂质体佐剂、中药佐剂及小肽类佐剂等相继问世,其作用机制也随研究的不断深入逐渐清晰。通过动物免疫实验结果发现,小肽类免疫佐剂不仅可以增强特异性免疫反应,具备免疫增强剂的功效,而且获取简单,便于运输保存,安全性高,可能是未来佐剂研究的一个主要方向。     

GM-CSF在登革热病毒和丙型肝炎病毒DNA疫苗诱导的免疫应答中的作用

研究GM-CSF在DV、HCV等几种黄病毒DNA疫苗诱导的免疫应答中的作用,并分析其作为黄病毒DNA疫苗佐剂的可能性。构建各种真核表达质粒,抽提质粒DNA,分组免疫小鼠,通过ELISA及间接免疫荧光染色检测小鼠血清抗体的动态水平。DV1及DV2prM/E核酸疫苗与GM-CSF质粒共接种的佐剂组小鼠血清抗体水平低于无佐剂的疫苗组,即GM-CSF显示了一定的免疫抑制作用,其中以DV1prM/E核酸疫苗更为显著;而在HCVC及E1蛋白核酸疫苗中,GM-CSF则具有一定免疫增强作用。GM-CSF作为疫苗佐剂,其作用具有复杂的多样性,因抗原的不同可能会呈现免疫提升或免疫抑制,因此选择其作为核酸疫苗佐剂时需慎重。     

免疫刺激复合物(ISCOM)介导的传染性法氏囊病病毒多聚蛋白基因免疫的研究

将传染性法氏囊病病毒（IBDV）ZJ2000株的多聚蛋白（VP2／VP4／VP3）基因插入pCI质粒的CMV启动子下游,构建了真核表达质粒pCI-VP2/VP4/VP3,在Lipofectin介导下转染Vero细胞进行了多聚蛋白的瞬时表达。以免疫刺激复合物（ISCOM）为佐剂制备DNA疫苗,进行不同免疫剂量间、不同免疫途径间、一次免疫和二次免疫间的效果对比试验。结果表明：以肌内和皮内联合免疫法效果最好,而口服和点眼等途径未能诱导足够的免疫反应;大于200μg的剂量DNA疫苗才能产生良好的免疫力;二次免疫的效果明显优于一次免疫。与常规的弱毒疫苗B87和D78相比,DNA疫苗产生中和抗体的潜伏期长、效价相对较低,对强毒攻击的保护率相当。本试验还证实,免疫刺激复合物具有明显提高DNA疫苗免疫效果的作用。DNA疫苗能诱导产生保护性反应,为今后IBD疫苗的研究开创了一条新的途径。     

鼠巨细胞病毒 IE-1核酸疫苗和灭活疫苗联合免疫抗病毒感染的研究

巨细胞病毒（Cytomegalovirus,CMV）在人群中感染普遍,对婴幼儿及免疫低下人群中造成严重疾病,目前还没有针对该病毒的商品化疫苗。本研究以BALB/c小鼠为动物模型,探讨鼠巨细胞病毒（Murine cytomega-lovirus,MCMV）IE-1 DNA疫苗和MCMV灭活疫苗联合免疫抗MCMV感染的免疫保护效果。将编码IE-1基因的DNA疫苗（pIE-1）通过肌肉注射辅以电穿孔的方式对小鼠进行初免,再用全病毒灭活疫苗单独或者辅以MF59佐剂进行加强免疫,分别通过ELISA和ELISPOT方法检测到联合免疫策略在免疫组小鼠体内诱导了MC-MV特异性的抗体应答和CTL应答;免疫两周后用3＆#215;LD50致死剂量MCMV感染小鼠,疫苗对小鼠的免疫保护通过检测小鼠存活率、重要器官中的病毒滴度及体重丢失率来评价。结果显示,与单独免疫DNA疫苗或灭活疫苗相比,IE-1 DNA疫苗联合灭活疫苗组能同时在小鼠体内诱导体液免疫和细胞免疫应答,并提供小鼠完全保护;而且MF59辅以灭活疫苗免疫小鼠能增强疫苗的免疫效果。     

GM-CSF和IL-4增强Aβ表位DNA疫苗的免疫原性研究

目的:探究和评价粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(GM-CSF)及白细胞介素4(IL-4)作为β淀粉样蛋白(Aβ)表位DNA疫苗的分子佐剂,增强DNA疫苗体液和细胞免疫反应的水平。方法:阿尔茨海默病DNA表位疫苗p VAX1-6Aβ15-T分别与重组DNA分子佐剂p VAX1-S-IL-4和p VAX1-S-GM-CSF联合免疫BALB/c小鼠,并检测其免疫原性。结果:分子佐剂IL-4组相比单独的DNA表位疫苗p VAX1-6Aβ15-T组抗体水平具有一定程度的提高;GM-CSF能明显提高DNA疫苗Aβ特异的抗体水平和泛DR辅助T细胞表位(PADRE)特异的细胞免疫反应,4次免疫后其抗体滴度提高了4倍。结论:GM-CSF佐剂能够有效地用于今后阿尔茨海默病DNA表位疫苗的研究中。     

靶向鼻腔树突细胞的F1t3配体作佐剂激发抗致死性肺炎球菌性肺炎保护

作者以往的研究证明以肺炎球菌表面蛋白A（PspA）为基础的疫苗含有编码Flt3配体（FL）基因的DNA质粒（pFL）,这种DNA质粒可作为一种鼻腔佐剂,该疫苗能够预防肺炎链球菌在鼻腔的定植。在本项研究中,作者进一步研究了这种鼻腔投递疫苗在小鼠模型中诱导抗肺炎链球菌肺部感染的PspA特异性抗体应答的有效性及安全性,C57BL／6小鼠鼻腔免疫重组PspA／Rxl（rPspA）加pFL,免疫3次,间隔1周。     

DNA疫苗佐剂研究进展

DNA疫苗在免疫应答中能诱导机体产生持久的体液免疫和细胞免疫,然而DNA疫苗刺激机体免疫应答能力往往比常规疫苗引起的免疫反应弱。最近研究表明:使用DNA疫苗佐剂如细胞因子、CpGODN、补体C3d等有助于提高DNA疫苗的免疫效价。就DNA疫苗佐剂的研究进展做一综述。     

超抗原SEA增强小鼠对HBV DNA 疫苗的免疫反应

观察超抗原SEA(D227A)的真核表达载体(pmSEA),对HBVDNA疫苗诱导Balbc小鼠(H2d)免疫应答的调节作用。肌内注射空载体pcDNA3、HBVDNA疫苗加pmSEA佐剂(pHBVS2S+pmSEA)或不加佐剂(pHBVS2S);ELISA法测定血清抗HBs;ELISPOT检测分泌IFNγ的脾淋巴细胞;4h51Cr释放法检测小鼠脾细胞CTL活性。HBVDNA佐剂组免疫小鼠抗HBsAg抗体滴度明显高于不加佐剂组,其IgG1IgG2a的比例不同于多肽免疫组,二者分别为0.282与10。HBVDNA佐剂组均能增强IgG1和IgG2a的产生,是不加佐剂组的1.36、1.73倍。佐剂组小鼠脾淋巴细胞IFNγ的分泌量是不加佐剂组2～3倍。CTL细胞杀伤活性(E:T=100)佐剂组与不加佐剂组分别为:69.77%±7.5%、42.81%±7.7%,差异显著(P<0.05)。HBVDNA疫苗具有较强的免疫原性,能够诱导机体产生特异性的抗体及CTL反应;pmSEA佐剂能够提高小鼠对DNA疫苗的免疫应答,有望成为DNA疫苗的免疫佐剂。     

Novel protein and poxvirus-based vaccine combinations for simultaneous induction of humoral and cell-mediated immunity

The presence of both cell-mediated and humoral immunity is important in protection from and clearance of a number of infectious pathogens. We describe novel vaccine regimens using combinations of plasmid DNA, poxvirus and protein to induce strong Ag-specific T cell and Ab responses simultaneously in a murine model. Intramuscular (i.m.) immunization with plasmid DNA encoding the middle Ag of hepatitis B (DNA) concurrently with a commercial hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine (Engerix-B) followed by boosting immunizations with both modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) encoding the middle Ag of HBV and Engerix-B induced high levels of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells and high titer Ab responses to hepatitis B surface Ag (HbsAg). Substitution of Engerix-B with adjuvant-free rHBsAg induced similar T cell responses and greatly enhanced Ab levels. Repeated immunizations with recombinant or nonrecombinant MVA mixed with Ag induced higher titers of Abs compared with immunization with either Ag or Engerix-B further demonstrating this novel adjuvant effect of MVA. The poxviruses NYVAC, fowlpox (FP9) and ALVAC, and to a lesser extent, adenovirus, also displayed similar adjuvant properties when used in combination with rHBsAg. The use of poxviruses as an adjuvant for protein to concurrently induce Ag-specific T cells and Abs could be applied to the development of vaccines for many diseases, including HIV and malaria, where both cell mediated and humoral immunity may be important for protection.     

Papillomavirus pseudovirus: a novel vaccine to induce mucosal and systemic cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses

Intestinal mucosa is a portal for many infectious pathogens. Systemic immunization, in general, does not induce a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response at the mucosal surface. Because papillomavirus (PV) naturally infects mucosa and skin, we determined whether PV pseudovirus, i.e., PV-like particles in which unrelated DNA plasmids are packaged, could generate specific mucosal immunity. We found that the pseudovirus that encoded the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus gp33 epitope induced a stronger CTL response than a DNA vaccine (plasmid) encoding the same epitope given systemically. The virus-like particles that were used to make the pseudoviruses provided an adjuvant effect for induction of CTLs by the DNA vaccine. The PV pseudovirus pseudoinfected mucosal and systemic lymphoid tissues when administered orally. Oral immunization with the pseudovirus encoding human PV type 16 mutant E7 induced mucosal and systemic CTL responses. In comparison, a DNA vaccine encoding E7, when given orally, did not induce a CTL response in intestinal mucosal lymphoid tissue. Further, oral immunization with the human PV pseudovirus encoding E7 protected mice against mucosal challenge with an E7-expressing bovine PV pseudovirus. Thus, PV pseudovirus can be used as a novel vaccine to induce mucosal and systemic CTL responses.     

Improved protective efficacy of a species-specific DNA vaccine encoding mycolyl-transferase Ag85A from Mycobacterium ulcerans by homologous protein boosting

Vaccination with plasmid DNA encoding Ag85A from M. bovis BCG can partially protect C57BL/6 mice against a subsequent footpad challenge with M. ulcerans. Unfortunately, this cross-reactive protection is insufficient to completely control the infection. Although genes encoding Ag85A from M. bovis BCG (identical to genes from M. tuberculosis) and from M. ulcerans are highly conserved, minor sequence differences exist, and use of the specific gene of M. ulcerans could possibly result in a more potent vaccine. Here we report on a comparison of immunogenicity and protective efficacy in C57BL/6 mice of Ag85A from M. tuberculosis and M. ulcerans, administered as a plasmid DNA vaccine, as a recombinant protein vaccine in adjuvant or as a combined DNA prime-protein boost vaccine. All three vaccination formulations induced cross-reactive humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, although species-specific Th1 type T cell epitopes could be identified in both the NH2-terminal region and the COOH-terminal region of the antigens. This partial species-specificity was reflected in a higher--albeit not sustained--protective efficacy of the M. ulcerans than of the M. tuberculosis vaccine, particularly when administered using the DNA prime-protein boost protocol.     

Enhanced potency of individual and bivalent DNA replicon vaccines or conventional DNA vaccines by formulation with aluminum phosphate

DNA vaccines against botulinum neurotoxin (BoNTs) induce protective humoral immune responses in mouse model, but when compared with conventional vaccines such as toxoid and protein vaccines, DNA vaccines often induce lower antibody level and protective efficacy and are still necessary to increase their potency. In this study we evaluated the potency of aluminum phosphate as an adjuvant of DNA vaccines to enhance antibody responses and protective efficacy against botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A and B in Balb/c mice. The administration of these individual and bivalent plasmid DNA replicon vaccines against botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A and B in the presence of aluminum phosphate improved both antibody responses and protective efficacy. Furthermore, formulation of conventional plasmid DNA vaccines encoding the same Hc domains of botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A and B with aluminum phosphate adjuvant increased both antibody responses and protective efficacy. These results indicate aluminum phosphate is an effective adjuvant for these two types of DNA vaccines (i.e., plasmid DNA replicon vaccines and conventional plasmid DNA vaccines), and the vaccine formulation described here may be an excellent candidate for further vaccine development against botulinum neurotoxins.     

DNA immunization with a plasmid carrying the gene of hepatitis C virus protein 5A (NS5A) induces an effective cellular immune response

In spite of extensive research, no effective vaccine against hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been developed so far. DNA immunization is a potent technique of vaccine design strongly promoting the cellular arm of immune response. The genes encoding nonstructural HCV proteins (NS2-NS5B) are promising candidates for vaccine development. NS5A is a protein involved in viral pathogenesis, in the induction of immune response, and probably in viral resistance to interferon treatment. The objective of this study was to construct a DNA vaccine encoding NS5A protein and evaluate its immunogenicity. A plasmid encoding a full-size NS5A protein was produced using the pcDNA3.1 (+) vector for eukaryotic expression system. The expression of the NS5A gene was confirmed by immunoperoxidase staining of the transfected eukaryotic cells with anti- NS5A monoclonal antibodies. Triple immunization of mice with the plasmid vaccine induced a pronounced cellular immune response against a broad spectrum of NS5A epitopes as assessed by T-cell proliferation and secretion of antiviral cytokines IFN-γ and IL-2. In T-cell stimulation in vitro experiments, NS5A-derived antigens were modeled by synthetic peptides, recombinant proteins of various genotypes, and phages carrying exposed NS5A peptides. A novel immunomodulator Immunomax showed high adjuvant activity in DNA immunization. The data obtained indicate that the suggested DNA construct has a strong potential in the development of the gene vaccines against hepatitis C.     

Codelivery of CCR7 ligands as molecular adjuvants enhances the protective immune response against herpes simplex virus type 1

Humoral and cellular immunity, associated with long-term protective immunological memory, defines the efficacy of a given vaccine formulation. However, few vaccines achieve this target without the aid of a suitable adjuvant. Molecular adjuvants in vaccination against infectious agents offer a noninvasive means of enhancing the immune response against target antigens. To examine the potency of two beta-chemokines as immunomodulators, plasmid DNA encoding beta-chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 (CCR7L) was codelivered intranasally with plasmid DNA or recombinant vaccinia virus encoding herpes simplex virus (HSV) gB (HSV-gB) in a prime-and-boost vaccination strategy. This vaccination regimen increased serum and vaginal immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA, respectively, as well as the numbers of HSV-gB(498-505) peptide-specific gamma interferon-producing CD8(+) T cells. Distinctively, a high number of cytotoxic T lymphocytes was achieved when pCCR7L was applied at both prime and boost as opposed to omission of pCCR7L. A rapid-recall response was induced in the genital tract upon challenge with the HSV McKrae strain, affording a high level of protection and survival of vaccinated mice. Our results demonstrate that high innate immune kinetics and distribution of adaptive response induced in the nasal mucosa appears to be key factors in generating protective memory responses against HSV. Thus CCR7L expressed ectopically may serve as a molecular adjuvant to boost the immune response to a codelivered antigen in mucosal surfaces.     

Bovine herpesvirus 1 VP22 enhances the efficacy of a DNA vaccine in cattle

For this study, the intercellular trafficking ability of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) VP22 was applied to improve the efficacy of a DNA vaccine in calves. A plasmid encoding a truncated version of glycoprotein D (tgD) fused to VP22 was constructed. The plasmid encoding tgD-VP22 elicited significantly enhanced and more balanced immune responses than those induced by a plasmid encoding tgD. Furthermore, protection against a BHV-1 challenge was obtained in calves immunized with the plasmid encoding tgD-VP22, as shown by significant reductions in viral excretion. However, less significant protection was observed for animals vaccinated with the tgD-expressing plasmid, correlating with the lower level of immunity observed prechallenge. This is the first report of the use of VP22 as a transport molecule in the context of a DNA vaccine for a large animal species.     

IL-2与猪细小病毒VP2基因双表达载体的构建及免疫原性的研究

将白细胞介素-2基因和猪细小病毒VP2基因主要抗原区克隆至pCI-neo真核表达载体中,构建了pCIneo-IL2-VP2重组质粒,用脂质体将其转染到PK-15细胞中,利用免疫荧光方法检测在体外表达情况。并以小鼠为动物模型,将pCIneo-IL2-VP2重组质粒、对照组pCI-neo和猪细小病毒活疫苗通过肌肉注射进行免疫,检测免疫小鼠的淋巴细胞转化功能,特异性CTL杀伤活性和血清抗体滴度。结果显示,pCIneo-IL2-VP2在体外能够诱导PK-15细胞表达VP2蛋白,小鼠注射pCIneo-IL2-VP2质粒1周后能够诱导机体产生抗体,4周时达到峰值,与活疫苗对照组产生的抗体滴度、诱导T淋巴细胞增殖和诱导强的细胞毒性基本一致。试验表明,构建的pCIneo-IL2-VP2能够有效诱导机体产生体液免疫和细胞免疫。